Chapter Fifty-One: The Mercy of Death

The black heart placed atop the wooden rack bloomed within a white jade bowl, slowly contracting as though some living creature resided within. Its rhythmic pulse echoed in the air; the closer Xu Wen drew, the more he sensed his own heart following its cadence, as if tethered to it, beating in unison. The sensation was subtle, yet he felt himself slipping deeper into its influence.

"Such an object is kept on the second floor of the Divine Armory Pavilion?"

A surge of alarm swept through Xu Wen. He halted abruptly, took a step back, and forcefully tore himself from that uncanny feeling.

He had glimpsed this sinister, life-like 'black heart' once before, though only in the pages of the Necromancer's Codex; he had never possessed nor touched it. Yet the thing before him matched the book's descriptions precisely. There was no mistake.

It was that object!

Its name was infamous, steeped in evil—

"Death's Mercy."

Forged from the hearts and magic cores of seven eight-star beasts, extracted and sealed together, then refined through an elaborate ritual using secret techniques.

Compared to the roomful of advanced weapons and armor, the value of 'Death's Mercy' was greater, rivaling even a premium nine-star weapon.

Yet Xu Wen could not fathom why such a transcendent artifact, one that required a minimum of an eight-star undead archmage and years of labor to create, would appear here.

A thought struck him, and he turned to ask Xiao Qian, who had followed behind.

"This is the Heart of Death," she replied, as if anticipating his question. Her beautiful eyes regarded Xu Wen with a trace of surprise, puzzled by how swiftly he had freed himself from the malevolent aura of the Heart of Death and stood nearby, seemingly unaffected. Usually, even a six-star warrior would fall under its evil influence upon first approach and need a reminder to break free.

Could it be that lower-tier cultivators, like those at two stars, reacted differently?

With this curious notion, Xiao Qian explained softly:

"This Heart of Death originally belonged to a wicked undead sorcerer. It was crafted from the hearts and magic cores of seven eight-star beasts... When a nine-star undead mage faced death, he intended to use it to prolong his life. Our family's elder in West City learned of his plan and slew the sorcerer before the ritual, acquiring it."

"Prolong his life?" Xu Wen's mouth fell open in astonishment as he gazed at Xiao Qian.

As a seasoned necromancer himself, he truly had not known the Heart of Death could prolong one's life. Wait—no, it was not prolongation, but the 'Living Dead Transformation.' It would solidify one's power at the nine-star level, transforming the mage into an immortal undead form akin to a lich, forever half-human, half-demon.

Xiao Qian, not noticing the strange look in Xu Wen's eyes, nodded gently.

"It is said to grant longevity, though the exact method is unknown. Additionally, it can serve as a supreme material for puppet alchemy, enhancing the grade and agility of constructs."

"Oh?" Xu Wen feigned enlightenment, though inwardly he scoffed.

What nonsense.

They hardly understood the true purpose of the Heart of Death. Placing it here in the Divine Armory Pavilion was likely to showcase the West City family's achievements—or perhaps to attract someone who truly understood its power. The latter was evident from its price tag.

Two hundred thousand gold coins!

Madness!

An evil tool used by necromancers to cheat death; any normal person would recoil at a glance. Who would dare use it?

As for using it as puppet material, the price was exorbitant—no puppet master in the Azure Empire could afford it, especially since other materials of similar grade were both cheaper and more effective.

The true name of the 'Heart of Death' was 'Death's Mercy.' Only in the hands of a high-level necromancer could it unleash its full power. Nevertheless, Xu Wen had no intention of pursuing such an unholy path. If he possessed it, he would select a suitable vessel for 'Death's Mercy' and transform it into his most formidable undead companion.

Alas...

With his current strength, neither his finances nor his force could secure and protect it, let alone utilize it—for the heart, infused with the savage souls of seven eight-star beasts, would instantly devour the flesh and blood of any necromancer below eight stars.

After a moment's contemplation, Xu Wen casually asked Xiao Qian a few innocuous questions, then departed from the wooden rack bearing the Heart of Death.

He moved to the Fire Magic section, surrounded by dazzling high-grade armor and weapons, each far superior to the Violet Flame Robe. There were exclusive magic swords for fire mages, alchemy cauldrons, secret manuals...

Even Xu Wen, accustomed to the finest equipment, found himself dazzled.

Many items were beyond the reach of the Hortonklin family—not a single one among their possessions! Each artifact was protected by powerful wards.

What did disparity mean?

This was disparity! It was why the Hortonklin family could not establish themselves in the Imperial Capital; even their commercial ventures were mere supporting roles.

Xu Wen's gaze swept indifferently across the radiant equipment. He did not linger, but turned and, under Xiao Qian's surprised stare, strode toward the old man seated in the armchair by the door.

While browsing, Xu Wen had already guessed the steward's reason for inviting him to the second floor. Though his storage ring was devoid of even half a silver coin, he did not wish to be refused entry next time—this was an opportunity worth seizing.

After all, in five days he would enroll at Azure Cloud Academy; opening another avenue for himself could only be beneficial.

He approached the silver-haired elder, whose eyes, narrowed to slits, opened a fraction, revealing a glimmer that confirmed Xu Wen's suspicions.

Indeed, as the chief appraiser of the West City family—one of the eight great houses of the capital—his power was certainly no less than seven stars.

"I would like to have something appraised," Xu Wen said.

The old man grunted, "Show it," in a flat tone, though his eyes lingered seriously on Xu Wen's face.

"Your Divine Armory Pavilion also accepts potion recipes and finished elixirs, correct?"

"We do—so long as they are of value," the elder replied, showing a hint of interest.

"In that case..." Xu Wen casually described the effects of a rare five-star potion he vaguely remembered, requesting an appraisal.

The old man's eyes snapped open at Xu Wen's words, his calm expression replaced with urgency. "Could you bring a finished sample for me to see, young man?"

He had never heard of a potion capable of suppressing a person's spiritual aura. Normally, only those of the highest cultivation could deceive practitioners of lower levels. A potion that could conceal one's essence in so short a time was unheard of. Yet Xu Wen's confident manner suggested he was not lying.

Though the grade was not high, its rarity and special effects could fetch a handsome price.

"I ask that you first appraise its value. Next time, perhaps my alchemist friend can produce one for me to bring."

The old man closed his eyes and pondered for several seconds, then opened them and declared:

"If it is as miraculous as you say, a single finished potion would be worth two thousand gold coins. Should you bring a vial, the West City family will offer twenty-five thousand gold coins for it."